Driving device and means for controlling the flow of fluids therein



'May 2, 1939- J. L. HEROLD 2,156,497

DRIVING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING vTHE FLOW OF' FLUIDS THEREIN Filed May 26, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 i, v l, .l l... ab

IIIIII i m MH n L J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aw w/ N v A f J. L. HEROLD Filed May 26, 1957 EL f/ May 2, 1939.

DRIVING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR CONTROLL'ING THE FLOW OF' FLUIDS THEREIN Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING DEVICE ANDl MEANS TROLLING THE THEREIN.

FOR CON- FLOW OF FLUIDS James L. Herold, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to driving devices and means for controlling the flow of fluids therein. In the delivery of iiuid to rotating conductors, it is customary to employ stuffing boxes, or the 5 like, to conne and prevent leakage of the fluid under pressure at the junctions of stationary and rotating conductors. Furthermore, cases, or housings, containing driving mechanism are ordinarily equipped with stuffing boxes to prevent leakage of lubricant around the driven members which extend from the enclosed driving mechanism. Aside from any loss of power due to friction at the compressed packing, such stufng boxes are a source of trouble and uncertainty, requiring more or less frequent adjustments, and they are not very efcient in preventing undesirable leakage.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a simple means for transmitting fluid under pressure to a rotating conductor, without incurring the necessity of using a stuiiing box, or the like, at the point where the fluid is delivered to the rotating conductor. In one form of the invention this is accomplished through the medium of an injector nozzle extending into a rotating tube, said tube being rotated independently of the nozzle, and the fluid under pressure being discharged from the nozzle and through the tube, without requiring a stufng box, Aor the like, to prevent leakage at the point where the fluid is delivered to the rotating tube.

Another feature of the invention is shown in a case, or housing, containing driving mechanism, and having one or more openings for a rotary member which extends from the case, or housing, the object of this feature being to prevent leakage of lubricant from such openings, without the necessity of using stuiiing boxes, or the like.

Actual commercial use of the novel devicesV herein disclosed has shown that they effectively perform their functions, without the aid of frictional material in stuffing boxes; and in the preferred form of the invention the desired results are accomplished without resorting to frictional devices in the means for preventing leakage.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient means for preventing the admission of water, or other liquid, into the case or bearing containing the lubricated driving device.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. lis a side view of a device embodying fea- 'f5 tures of this invention, the upper end portions of some of the rotary uid conductors being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale taken approximately on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. l0

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing the upper end portion of one of the tubular driving shafts,

and details associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section showing one of the injector nozzles extending into an end portion of CIB a rotary tube.

Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2, with intermediate portions of the apparatus broken away.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing ilaring '-20 baies at the upper ends of tubular driving shafts.

The device herein shown to illustrate one form of the invention comprises an elongated case, or housing, 'I containing driving mechanism which may includea shaft 8 rotated through the met2li dium of any suitable source of power outside of the case, spiral gears 9 fixed to said shaft and -meshing with spiral gears I0 fixed to tubular driving shafts Ii, the latter being rotatably mounted in bearings I2 at the upper portion of 30 the gear case. The lower ends of said tubular shafts II may be rotatably mounted in bushings I3 secured in openings which extend through the gear case. Each bushing I3 is provided with a threaded opening to receive the threaded lower A"35 end of a stand pine I4 which extends upwardly a substantial distance above the .bottom of the gear case. As shown in Fig. 2, each stand pipe may extend to a point near the t-op of the gear case, so as to lie within the adjacent tubular 40 drive shaft Il.

The rotary elements driven by each tubular drive shaft Il may include a tube, or stem, I5 surrounded by and secured to said drive shaft Il, as will be hereafter described, and a delivery 545 tube I6 extending upwardly from the top of said drive shaft II, the bottom of said delivery tube being provided with a coupling Il screwed onto the upper end of said drive shaft II. As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the upper end 50 portion of the tube I5 may be screwed into the drive shaft Il and provided with a non-circular ange I8 engaging a gasket I9 seatedon the top 'of said drive shaft II.

Byreferring Ato Figures 2 and 3 it vwill be noted k:15's

that the delivery tube I6 forms a continuation of the lower tube I5, and that both of these tubes are secured to the rotary drive shaft II. To provide for the delivery of liquid through the rotary tubes I5 `and EG, injector nozzles 2U may extend into the lower ends of the tubes I5. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, each of said nozzles maybe separated from the adjacent tube I5, to permit free rotation of the tube independently of the nozzle. The several nozzles 20 may be screwed into holders 2l carried by the gear case.

The means for delivering liquid under pressure to the nozzles 2i] may include a supply tube 22 (Fig. l) connected to a long pipe 23 having branches 24 (Fig. 2) leading to passageways 25 in the several nozzle-holders 2i, so as to deliver the liquid under pressure to the nozzles 2). The several streams of liquid are thus forcibly discharged from the restricted passageways in the nozzles 2l] and into the rotating tubes I5. Commercial use of this device has shown that the streams of liquid can be thus forcibly projected through the rotating injector tubes I5 and thence through the elongated delivery tubes I5. This result has been successfully accomplished without using stuiing boxes, or the like, at the intake ends of the rotating tubes, and without any frictional elements to prevent leakage at said ends, the injector nozzles 2i) being separated from the tubes I5 to permit free rotation of said tubes.

In considering the action of the injector, it will be important to observe that a jet of liquid is forcibly discharged from each nozzle 2l) at a high velocity and in an upward direction, onto the rising column of liquid in the rotary injector tube I5. The pressure of this forcible jet is great enough to lift the column of liquid, and it appears that the rising jet ares outwardly after leaving the nozzle. Any liquid tending to move downwardly in the rotary tube I5 is opposed by the force of this rising jet, so the high pressure and high velocity of the rising jet results in the desired discharge through the vertical delivery tube I6. Of course, a very large open space around the nozzle would result in excessive leakage, and conversely, a very tight fit at the nozzle and rotary tube would result in excessive friction. To overcome both of these objections, the space between the nozzle and tube is very slight, and commercial use of the invention has shown that it is an entirelyfeasible means for eliminating the trouble, expense and uncertainty heretofore involved in the use of numerous stufng boxes which require frequent adjustment as well as a very substantial degree of power to overcome the friction at the tight packing. It is to be understood, however, that in assembling the long rows of stationary nozzles and alining them with the rotary injector tubes I5, some of the tubes may frictionally engage the nozzles,` due to slight inaccuracies in the centering; and when in actualv use, some of the liquid will enter into the spaces around the nozzles. However, such liquid is merely a film around the nozzles, where it serves as a lubricant for contacting portions of the tubes and nozzles, and the resultant leakage is not great enough to require stufiing boxes around said tubes. I have described the theory of operation as it now appears to me, and while there may be some uncertainty in this theory, the actual commercial use of the invention has shown that it accomplishes the results and advantages herein set forth.

A breather 26 may be secured to the case 'I, as shown at the upper portions of Figures 2 and 5.

In one form of the invention, brushing devices 2'! (Fig. 1) are secured to the upper ends of the delivery tubes I6, and water or other cleansing fluid may be transmitted through and discharged from the upper ends of said tubes I6 to provide a means for washing and brushing bottles and other articles. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a device of this kind.

Attention is now directed to the means for lubricating the driving mechanism in the case 'I, and the means for preventing leakage of lubricant from said case.

As shown in Fig. 2, the case 'I contains a body of lubricating oil 2B in the course of the rotating gears 9, and each bearing l2 has inlet ports 29 to receive the splashed lubricant, which flows between the bearing and the outer face of the tubular drive shaft il. Some of this lubricating oil will rise along the peripheral face of the drive shaft i I, and some will flow downwardly and drop from the bottom of said shaft.

The means for preventing leakage of lubricant at the upper portion of each shaft I l (Fig. 2) preferably comprises an annular lubricant chamber 38 surrounding a peripheral portion of said shaft II, and a baie device BI formed on said peripheral portion. Said baiile device 3i may be in the form of annular ribs inclined downwardly to retard the rising oil, and since these ribs are l carried by a rotating shaft, they provide a centrifugal throwing device whereby the rising oil is thrown from the shaft and into the lubricant chamber 30. A return passage 32 for the oil (Fig. 2) extends downwardly from the lubricant chamber 3G to a discharge port 33, so as to permit return of the oil discharged into said chamber. However, the passage 32 may be formed by a groove in the inner face of the bearing I2, so as to distribute this oil along the peripheral face of the shaft II, and thereby more effectively lubricate the shaft and bearing. It will now be understood that this device prevents escape of lubricant at the upper portion of the case 1, where the shaft II extends through said case, without requiring the use of a stuiiing box, or the like, to prevent leakage.

The lubricant chambers 3G can be conveniently formed in the bearings i2 to provide traps for the lubricant which might otherwise be discharged from the upper ends. of the bearings. As

shown in Fig. 2, each of the lubricant chambers 3!) preferably lies between the lubricant inlets 29 and the upper end of the bearing.

IThe means for preventing leakage of lubricant from the lower portion of the case 1, where the rotary member I5 extends from said case, is another frictionless device including the xed stand pipe I4 having its lower end secured to an element of the case 'I to prevent leakage at said lower end. This stand pipe surrounds the rotary member I5, and it is preferably surrounded by but separated from the tubular shaft I I. If desired, the inner face of said tubular shaft II may be yenlarged at the bottom and tapered, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide a decrease in the restricted space wherein the oil may rise between the outer face of the stand pipe if and the inner face of said tubular shaft ii. The oil falling from the lower end of the tubular shaft ii will form a pool of limited height in the bushing I3 to aid in lubricating the lower portion of said shaft II, but this oil is confined by the stand pipe I4, and it will not rise to the upper end of said stand pipe.

In addition to preventing leakage of fluid from the gear case 1, the apparatus herein shown includes devices for preventing the admission of water, or other liquid, through the openings formed in the top of the case, where the shafts extend through said case. This is particularly desirable under conditions wherein liquid is dropped or splashed onto the outer face of the case. For example, if the driving mechanism is employed to rotate tubular spindles I6 which discharge cleansing liquid into inverted bottles, or the like, the used liquid will drop toward the case 1, and such liquid should be excluded from the interior of the case.

A shield 34 may be located over the case l as shown in Figures 1 and 5, said shield being approximately coextensive with the top of the case and secured thereto at various points by means of screws 35 extending upwardly from the case, and nuts 36 applied to said screws. This shield will receive liquid falling toward the case 1, but it has holes to receive the rotary shafts Il, and some of the liquid will pass through said holes.

The shafts H extend from openings at the top of the case l formed through the bearings i2, and rotary bailles 3l are located over these openings to receive and discharge liquid moving toward said openings. Each of these baliies -31 is preferably in the form of a cap having a portion 38 irnmediately above the opening at the top of one of the bearings i2, and an annular downturned portion 39 surrounding said opening. Each baiiie 3l is preferably carried by one of the rotary shafts H, so as to provide a centrifugal device whereby fluid delivered to the baffle is thrown away from the adjacent opening in the bearing. In Fig. 2, the annular downturned portions 39 of the baffles 3l are cylindrical, but a more efficient centrifugal device is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the downturned portions 39 are flared outwardly from the closed upper portions of the baiiles, to provide a centrifugal throwing action at the inner faces of the baliles, as well as at the outer faces.

For convenience in assembling and removing various elements of the apparatus, openings l0 (Fig. 2) are formed in the top of the gear case, and these openings are larger than the gears l0. Each of openings is normally closed by flange 4l extending from a bearing i2 and secured to the case by means of screws 42. Since the bearing l2, gear I0, drive shaft II and driven tube l5 are secured together, all of these elements can be removed as a unit through one of the openings 40, and the adjacent stand pipe i4 as well as the bushing I3 can then be removed through the same opening 40.

I claim:

l. In a device of the kind described, a case provided with a tubular driving shaft, a stand pipe surrounded by said tubular shaft and having its lower end secured to said case to prevent leakage f at said lower end, a tubular fluid conductor extending through said stand pipe and secured to said ktubular driving shaft at a point above the stand pipe so as to rotate with said driving shaft, an injector nozzle extending into the lower end of said fluid conductor, and means for transmitting iiuid to said injector nozzle.

2. In a device of the kind described, a tubular conductor provided with a brush at its upper end, an injector nozzle extending into the lower end of said tubular conductor, means for rotating said tubular conductor and brush independently of said nozzle, said injector nozzle being spaced from the conductor to permit free vrotation of the tubular conductor independently of said nozzle, and means for transmitting liquid to saidvnozzle.

3. In a device of the kind described, a tubular conductor provided with a brush at one end, an injector nozzle extending into the other end of said tubular conductor, means for rotating said tubular conductor and brush independently of said nozzle, said injector nozzle being of a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular conductor to permit free rotation of the tubular conductor independently of said nozzle, and means for transmitting liquid to said nozzle.

4. In a device of the kind described, a tubular conductor provided with a brush at its upper end, an injector nozzle extending into the lower end of said tubular conductor, means for rotating said tubular conductor and brush independently of said nozzle, said injector nozzle being of a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular conductor and separated from the conductor to permit free rotation of said conductor independently of said nozzle, and means for transmitting liquid to said nozzle.

JAMES L. HEROLD. 

